Directory of Activities

Jazz Band 6, 7, 8 All Year After school Meets at least twice a week during and after school and gives performances in school, throughout the community, and at music festivals. The Columbia Middle School Jazz Ensemble offers students the opportunity to perform music from the 1930s and 40s Big Band Era as well as the contemporary music of today. As an active performing ensemble, this group performs at various events such as Columbia Middle School Graduation and Sixth Grade Orientation. We have given performances for the Seniors Citizens of Berkeley Heights, toured the three elementary schools in Berkeley Heights, performed at the High Note Festival at Dorney Park, and we perform at the Spring and Winter Concerts.

Chorus 6, 7, 8 All Year The 6th Grade Chorus is welcome to all students who would like to sing in a large ensemble. The 7th and 8th Grade Chorus draws it membership from all seventh and eighth grade boys and girls interested in singing. No previous experience is required to be in these ensembles. Rehearsals occur during Blocks A and B. The group performs twice a year during the Winter and Spring Concerts.

Vocal Ensemble 7, 8 All Year During Lunch/EPThe Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned group of seventh and eighth grade students. Any student has the opportunity to audition for the group. Rehearsals are held on Day 2 from 11:05am - 11:37am (Lunch/EP). The ensemble performs twice a year during the Winter and Spring Concerts.

Drama Club 6, 7, 8 All Year After school Drama Club is a second semester activity and includes auditions, practice and an evening show for the public that showcases talent in "A Night of Song" later in the spring.

Drummers Club 6, 7, 8 All Year After schoolMeets at least twice a week during and after school, gives performances in school, throughout the community, and at music festivals. An outgrowth of this ensemble is the Steel Pan Ensemble. The Columbia Middle School Percussion Ensemble dedicates itself to playing any instrument that you can hit, shake or scrape.

Students will be exposed to new percussion instruments and have the opportunity to be featured in an advanced performing ensemble. Music selected for this ensemble ranges from popular to contemporary percussion literature. This ensemble is open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders who have displayed an advanced level of playing for their age level. Ensemble members are teacher appointed. This ensemble meets after school and during "go-to lessons".

School Clubs

Arduino Club 6, 7, 8 Arduino Club consists of both a physical programmable circuit board (often referred to as a micro-controller) and a piece of software, that runs on your computer, used to write and upload computer code. In the Arduino Club students will have the opportunity to learn and create interactive objects that can take input from switches and sensors, and control physical outputs like lights, motors or actuators. The club meets Tuesdays after school.

Art Club 6, 7, 8 All Year After school Designed to meet on a weekly basis, the Art Club schedule may involve alternating weeks to allow for groups larger than can be accommodated in one lab setting. Students are encourage to work on group projects, individual pieces or club designed assignments for the good of the school. Students should have an interest in art, but individual talent is not a factor for membership. All are welcome.

Cross Country Club6, 7, 8 Spring After school The Running Club was developed as an alternative activity/exercise for students who are limited to only a couple of fall sports. This will include some elementary running skills, distance recording and fitness games to create some interest in running cross-country.

Our goal: That the runners that pass through our program develop in the following way:

Athletes will realize that cross-country is not only a sport, but also a lifetime activity decreasing the rate of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Success is being the best they can be every day.

They develop a love of the sport, or at least an understanding and appreciation for cross-country.

Leave our program with a good work ethic, a feeling that things worth having are worth working hard for.

Learn to work cooperatively with other teammates.

Instill self-confidence with what they have accomplished during the season.

Hopefully, this exposure will create an excitement about running, attracting many more students to pursue cross-country at the high school level.

French Club 6, 7, 8

The CMS French Club is open to students in Grades 6-8. Meetings take place two times a month. During EP on day 2, students meet in Room B7 to explore various topics that are related to French and French culture. We also cook once a month in the Life Skills Room after school. This occurs the last Wednesday of every month. In French Club, students have the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into the fun and exciting side of the Francophone World from Mardi Gras in New Orleans to Dogsledding in Quebec. Students in French Club also have the opportunity to partake in cultural field trips such as Cirque Du Soleil, French cafe visists and more.

Future Film Makers Club 6, 7, 8 After School The Future Film Makers club provides an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our students as they combine their story-telling skills with the available communication technology of today. Our students will learn to create Stop Motion Animation and Live Action Films and will be challenged with telling a story. Participants will come up with a script idea, writing the scripts, planning each scene, working with equipment, editing and creative differences. Each school year we hold our annual "Film Festival" to showcase our student made films. The club meets each Monday after school.

Golf Club 6, 7, 8 Spring After school Whether you enjoy golf, or would like to just give it a try, this is an excellent place to be each spring. This club will afford you the opportunity to learn the basics of grip, alignment, stance and posture, swing fundamentals and athletic shift.

Guitar Club (Tiger Tabs)This club is open to all middle school students and meets weekly during a portion of the school’s lunch block. No experience is necessary. The goals of this club are to promote student connections to school while providing exposure to music in a fun way, as well as, to expose students to the guitar: tuning, chords, and various songs. Although students are encouraged to bring their own instrument, students do not need to possess a guitar to participate, school guitars can be used. Club participants are encouraged to bring in their own guitar licks, songs, and music interests. Participants may be asked/ encouraged to participate in other middle school events and productions (e.g., drama, chorus concerts, graduation). CMS students will also have an opportunity to participate at the at the GLHS “coffee shop/ open mics.”

Math Club 6, 7, & 8- WeeklyThe CMS Math Club is a place where students can work with their peers to collaborate on solving all types of challenges. During weekly meetings students will solve math problems, brain teasers, riddles and puzzles; and will have the opportunity to participate in math league competitions. Students in math club should enjoy math and solving puzzles, but individual skill level is not a factor for membership. All students are welcome!

Newspaper Club 6, 7, 8 All Year Second Half of Lunch Time Newspaper Club publishes several papers a year and is open to students in 6-8th grade. Students investigate, create, and publish their own news stories. It meets every other week from September through June.

Photography Club 6, 7, 8 All Year

Robotics Club 6, 7, 8 All Year This group of programers competes twice annually and meets afterschool.

School Store 6, 7, 8 All Year. The school store is always looking for help. Students participate by learning how to set displays and sell school supplies. The school store is a great place to meet people and learn a bit about running a business.

Science Club 6, 7, 8 All Year After schoolScience Club meets two Thursdays a month from 3:15-4:00 and is available for any student in grades 6-8. In the science club students complete labs involving biology, earth science, and physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Spanish Club 6, 7, 8 All Year After school The Spanish Club is open to All Students 6 - 8 grades. We currently meet every other Tuesday from 3 - 4 pm. We explore Spanish Cooking, Spanish Music, Spanish Theatrics, Spanish Arts & Crafts, and Spanish Games.

Speech Team 6,7,8 All Year After schoolAt an age where students first develop an interest in pursuits beyond reading, writing, and math, Speech Team offers a way for middle school students to learn to engage with each other and communicate in front of an audience. Initiating these critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills at a young age prepares a foundation on which students can flourish, both academically and socially.

Student Government 6, 7, 8 All Year. Student Government is open to all students and the more students involved the better.

TWIST 6, 7, 8, All Year After schoolTeen Women Interested in Science and Technology (TWIST) meets two Thursdays a month from 3:15-4:00 and is available for any female student in grades 6-8. TWIST provides opportunities to explore topics in science, math and technology in a fun setting. Students will work together to solve problems and come to better understand the world.

Writing Club 6,7,8 All Year during LunchThe writing club will be a group of interested peers who serve as editors for our school's first literary magazine. We will receive submissions to the magazine from students in all grades. Club members will read, edit and publish student work. Our end goal is to have a collection of prose, essays and poems for a literary magazine in both print and electronic form.

Yearbook Club 8th Grade~All Year

Meetings are announced in the daily notice 3-5 days ahead of time and meet in Mrs. Bohling's room or C-15. We create the yearbook from cover to cover including not only photographs but original student artwork. Meetings are concentrated in January and February as more hands on student involvement is needed. Please see website for updates.

Interscholastic Athletics

Cheerleading 7, 8 Winter After school Daily After competitive tryouts, students chosen for cheerleading meet daily to learn the routines of the Columbia Middle School cheer team. Cheerleading includes practice as well as cheering during home basketball games. Emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, skill progression, and safety. Tryouts begin in November.

Boy’s/Girl’s Basketball 7, 8 Winter After school Daily Interscholastic athletic teams meet daily and compete against other middle school teams in Union County. Emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, skill progression, and team strategy. Both basketball teams practice daily after school and usually have 2-3 games a week. These teams have a tryout program that takes place in November.

Girl’s Softball/Boy’s Baseball 7, 8 Spring After school Daily Interscholastic athletic teams meet daily and compete against other middle school teams in Union County. Emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, skill progression, and team strategy. Both baseball and softball teams practice daily after school and usually have 2-3 games a week. These teams have a tryout program that takes place in March.

Girl’s/Boy's Soccer 7, 8 Fall After school Daily Interscholastic athletic teams meet daily and compete against other middle school teams in Union County. Emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, skill progression, and team strategy. Both soccer teams practice daily after school and usually have 2-3 games a week. These teams have a tryout the first week of school